The Wild and Blackhawks face-off for the first of two meetings this week tonight at 6:30 on FanDuel Sports Network, TNT (outside Wild television market) and KFAN FM 100.3. Minnesota comes into tonight’s game on a two-game losing streak which is tied for its longest of the season (four other occurrences). Tonight’s meeting against the Blackhawks could be a nice bounce back opportunity for the Wild as it is 17-0-1 in its last 18 games against Chicago. In the last nine games played in Chicago, the Wild owns an 8-0-1 record, outscoring the Blackhawks 33-14.
Filip Gustavsson will get the start for Minnesota tonight. In his seven career starts against the Blackhawks, Gustavsson owns a 6-0-1 record with a 1.99 GAA and a .929 SV%. In 13 starts dating back to January 17, Gustavsson is 10-2-1 with a 2.52 GAA, a .912 SV% and one shutout. He ranks T-3rd in the NHL in SV%, fourth in wins and seventh in GAA over that span.
The Wild will be without center Joel Eriksson Ek in tonight’s game. Head Coach John Hynes said after morning skate today that Eriksson Ek is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Robby Fabbri will slot into the lineup for Minnesota in place of Eriksson Ek. Zach Bogosian enters back into the lineup after getting a day off in Sunday’s game against the Rangers.
